A significant coal mine that was the topic of a landmark court docket battle fought on local weather change and human rights grounds has been denied an environmental license.
The Clive Palmer-backed Waratah mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin had its environmental authority software rejected on Monday.
The choice by the Queensland Division of Atmosphere follows a Land Courtroom advice in November to refuse each the environmental authority and mining lease functions
The thermal coal mission must be rejected as a result of it “dangers unacceptable local weather change impacts” on the setting and on human rights, the court docket dominated.
Land Courtroom President Fleur Kingham discovered that despite the fact that the mine was supposed for exports, “wherever the coal is burned the emissions will contribute to environmental hurt, together with in Queensland”.
The listening to occurred over seven weeks starting in April final 12 months, and included proof taken on-country within the Torres Strait and Cairns.
It was the primary time a Queensland court docket has suggested a coal mine must be refused on account of its contribution to local weather change, and the primary time an Australian court docket has linked local weather change to human rights.
There are not any assessment or enchantment rights beneath Queensland’s Environmental Safety Act for the division’s determination, nonetheless a judicial assessment might be utilized for by way of the Supreme Courtroom.
